Male Stonechat

Male Stonechat. Pencil and Ink Wash. 160mm x 130mm.

Another drawing for the Huddersfield Bird Report.

Wheatear and Kingfisher

Male Wheatear. Pencil and Ink Wash. 150mm x 110mm

Kingfisher. Pencil and Ink Wash. 150mm x 110mm.

Two different images, the quiet attitude of the Kingfisher contrasting with the action of the scolding Wheatear. Another pair of drawings intended for the 2007 Huddersfield Birdwatchers Club Report.

I first drew the images using a 6B Progresso graphite pencil on Winsor and Newton Cartridge paper. The paper was then soaked and stretched onto the drawing board and allowed to dry. The drawings were then tinted using gradually darker washes of Winsor and Newton Indian Ink.

Goldcrest

Britains smallest bird. This one sketched as it foraged in the Silver Birch tree in the garden this morning. The first time I've recorded the species in the garden in the 11 years we have lived here.

Blackbirds

A pair of Blackbirds on the gate post this morning whilst I was having breakfast. Just time for a quick drawing before they flew off.

A Different Approach

Natural Forms 1. Landscape in a Silver Birch. Acrylic on Canvas. 19.5'' x 15.5''

As much of my work is essentially representational it makes a change to paint something more abstract. Albeit based on close observation of a natural object. In this case a small fragment of Silver Birch bark. Painted with a palette of; Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Yellow Ochre, Ultramarine Blue, Ivory Black and Titanium White

Red Fox

Red Fox. Linocut and Watercolour. 150m x 210mm.

One of three Linocut prints, hand coloured with watercolour. The image is based on a sketch drawn a few years ago late one evening at Elland Gravel Pits. As the fox slowly worked its way through the woodland, oblivious of my presence on the opposite bank of the River Calder.

After cutting the block, the image was printed in black and then coloured using mixes of Paynes Grey, Yellow Ochre and Burnt Sienna. The same combination of colours was used for the other two prints although subtle differences in the strengths of the mixes gave each one a slightly different atmosphere.